We generally specialize in income tax returns and small business consulting. We are a professional service firm that engages clients long-term for tax returns prepared with multiple levels of review and personalized tax planning in mind, rather than single year data entry-style tax filing.

We do not handle tax return preparations that include part-year foreign residency considerations. While we do have expertise in US taxes as they are impacted by foreign taxes, non-residents, and non-resident aliens, our expertise is limited to certain issues. We also do not handle 706 estate taxes.

No. As a CPA firm we focus on long-term engagements with clients.

Unfortunately, no. In order to best serve our current clients, we can only spend time meeting with active or prospective clients. See our CPA Advice page for answers to some frequently asked questions.

Yes! We currently have clients in 31 of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, or 83% of states with an income tax.

In general, once you have met with Doug, we need to receive your relevant tax documentation (see the Prospective Clients FAQ below for more information). Once we begin receiving your documents, you will be assigned an accountant who will begin preparing your return once they reach your file in their queue of clients. During this process, your accountant may contact you with additional documents you need to provide and follow up questions. Once your return has been drafted, it is sent to Doug for a final review before it is assembled and sent to you.

When your return is completed, you will receive an email with a link to a folder in our client document management system which contains the return, your invoice, and eFile authorization forms. If you would like a paper copy mailed to your address or prepared for you to pick up from the office, you can notify us at this point if you haven’t done so already.

We use SmartVault, a secure file management software to receive, store, and send files. Visit the SmartVault website SmartVault website or read more about SmartVault security

Digital is preferred, but we can work with paper as well. You can mail us your documents, drop them off at our office, or fax them to us (See Contact for more information). We can also accept a mix of documents uploaded to SmartVault and documents sent on paper.

Cost is based on actual time incurred at standard rates for our accountants and senior staff who collaborate on your return, plus a nominal charge for out-of-pocket expenses. We cannot provide a cost estimate without knowing your specific details. However, it is common for our minimum fee for an individual return to include one state, a few W-2's, a few 1099 forms for interest and dividends, a few stock and equity sales from taxable accounts, itemized deductions including charitable donations, state and local taxes, and mortgage interest.

Call our office or send an email to doug@dougjmursteincpa.com with your name, contact information, your filing status (single, married filing jointly, married filing separately) and any factors that you know of which will affect your filings (rental properties, income in multiple states, trusts, inheritances, etc). Doug will send you more specific details on timing, rates, billing, etc. From there, we can set up an initial meeting to discuss your tax situation and next steps.

There is no specific date, but generally the closer the filing deadline, the less we are able to accommodate new engagements. Keep in mind that our deadline for current clients to submit documents in order to complete a return by the April 17th filing deadline is February 29th, and our deadline to submit documents for returns to be put on extension is March 27th. Email doug@dougjmursteincpa.com and we will evaluate on a case-by-case basis.

Possibly. Email doug@dougjmursteincpa.com or call our office and we will evaluate whether we can help.

The 2023 tax season begins January 1st, 2024 and the deadline for initial tax return filing, paying taxes due, and if needed, filing extensions is April 17th, 2024 for MA and ME residents, and April 15th, 2024 for all other states. The deadline for filing tax returns on extension is October 15th, 2024. See the calendars on our Home page for our specific timing deadlines.

It depends. If you have a complex tax situation or your situation has become complex over the previous year, a meeting to discuss the details will be beneficial. If you have filed with us previously and don’t have questions, it is probably not necessary to schedule a meeting. Many questions can be addressed by emailing Doug or your accountant.

Yes, we would like you to return a signed copy of the engagement letter which you should receive digitally or in the mail at the beginning of tax season. You can return it to us via email, uploading to SmartVault, or mailing it.

• A copy of your 2022 tax return (if it was not prepared by us)

• W-2 forms

• Schedule(s) K-1 showing income or loss from partnerships, S corporations, estates, or trusts

• Form(s) 1099, including 1099-Q, 1099-B, 1099-G, 1099-K, 1099-R, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-Misc, and 1099-NEC

• Brokerage statements showing transactions for stocks, bonds, etc

• Form(s) 1098, including 1098-E, 1098-T,

• Closing statements for sales or purchases of real property

• Invoices for residential clean energy improvements

Clients who have filed with us before will have a tax organizer in their SmartVault portal, which includes a more detailed list of documents we expect to receive this year based on what was provided previously.

Let us know if any of the following changes applied to you or your family during the tax year:

• Change of address

• New child (birth or adoption)

• Marriage or divorce

• Name change (first or last)

• Change of occupation (including retirement)

• Placement of child in daycare

Provide documentation of the following (if applicable) as they may affect your return. See your client organizer for a complete list.

• Student loans

• Charitable donations (monetary or otherwise)

• Medical expenses

Yes! It is very common to not receive all your documents (especially K-1s and investment reports) before it is time to begin submitting them to us. We can begin working once we receive a majority of your documents as long as you provide the rest when you receive it.

We use SmartVault, a secure file management software to receive, store, and send files. You should have received an invitation to create an account when you started working with our firm. Access the login page here. If you never made an account, call our office and we will help set you up.

Once you’re logged in, click on View Files and Folders on the lefthand sidebar to upload, then click the link with your name, then the TY23 folder, then Client Source Documents. The blue Upload File button is on the top right of the screen. Check our tutorial here for a detailed guide with pictures.

SmartVault has several helpful tutorials for users. Click the links below.

Activating your SmartVault account

Uploading Files (You can also view a tutorial specified for our firm here)

View and Download Files (This is helpful if you want to download a previous year’s tax return or access a file uploaded in the past)

If you’re still having trouble, you can call our office and we will see if we can figure out a workaround.

Email info@dougjmursteincpa.com and provide the email you would like to add to your portal. We will send an invitation to that address to set up an account.

We receive automatic notifications when clients add documents to their SmartVault portal, so we should be alerted and add you to the queue from there. However, uploads to previous tax year folders are not always visible to our accountants. If you are worried that you may have uploaded to the wrong folder, feel free to email info@dougjmursteincpa.com and we will confirm your uploads on our end.

Our accountants prepare returns based on when clients initially submit their documents, so it may take them some time to reach your return in their queue. Keep an eye on your email inbox for a message from them regarding open items (additional information or documentation they need from you to complete preparation). You should also upload any amended or additional documents you might receive later on.

It depends on several factors. Our accountants prepare returns based on when clients initially submit their documents, so it may take them some time to reach your return in their queue. The earlier you submit all your documents, the faster your return should be completed (provided there are no major delays in the process). Delays in answering your accountant’s questions and addressing open items can cause delays in preparation. Please see the calendars on our Home page for this year’s specific dates. We will consider requests to expedite a return, but it is ultimately up to your accountant’s discretion.

• If you have questions about which documents to submit; your open items; changes to information you have already submitted; or estimated payments, email your assigned accountant. You will receive an email from your accountant with open items once they begin preparing your return. If you are not sure who your accountant is you can always call our office.

• If you have a question about SmartVault; paying your invoice; making an appointment; or paper copies, email info@dougjmursteincpa.com. You can also use this email if you are not sure who your assigned accountant is.

• If you have a question about notices from the IRS; tax planning; edits to you return; amendments; or are a prospective client, email doug@dougjmursteincpa.com

Call our office (617.505.4121) when you get to our building and we will be happy to come downstairs to meet you.

This year we need to receive the majority documents by February 29th if you want to file by the April deadline (see the calendars on the Home page for dates). If we do not receive your documents by this date we cannot guarantee that your return will be filed before the April deadline and we will likely file your return later on extension. The deadline to submit documents for analysis for tax returns that will be put on extension is March 27th this year.

Form 8879 provides your authorization for our firm to electronically file (eFile) your return. Some states require a separate authorization form to file their residents’ state returns (Massachusetts is one of these and requires Form 8453). Without your signature(s) we cannot eFile your return for you.

We are happy to provide a copy of the filing status history from our tax software upon request when you receive your completed returns or email info@dougjmursteincpa.com at any time.

Your invoice is uploaded to the Client Final Tax Returns folder in your SmartVault portal. When your tax return is completed, you will receive an email with a direct link to this folder. If you request a paper copy of your return, your invoice will also be included in this folder.

We can accept payment via

• A completed credit card information form which you can upload to your SmartVault portal

• A mailed check made out to Doug J. Murstein CPA & Associates

• A call to the office to give your credit card information over the phone. Our number is 617.505.4121 and we are usually in the office from 9-5 on weekdays

Providing financial information for the purpose of filing your tax return does not grant us permission to perform any transactions with that information. We also don’t have the ability to make direct withdrawals from bank accounts even if provided information. Sending a check or submitting credit card details gives us permission and the ability to charge your account while verifying that you approve your invoice.

Individual income tax returns are due on April 15th or the first business day after if the 15th lands on a weekend or holiday. However, the IRS allows taxpayers an automatic six-month extension to file your taxes every year, as long as you complete Form 4868. It is important to note that if you obtain an extension to file, you must still pay your income tax in full by the April deadline. This is because the extension is an extension to file and not an extension to pay. The extension is guaranteed for everyone and there is no penalty or additional fee for requesting one. Common reasons for requesting an extension include a lack of organization, missing information, unanticipated events, or tax planning issues.

See the IRS website for guidance on paying your federal taxes.

State depts of revenue each have their own websites. Massachusetts residents can use MassTaxConnect. If you live in another state, Googling [your state here] + department of revenue should bring you to the appropriate site. If you’re having trouble finding your state’s website, email info@dougjmursteincpa.com and we will help you locate your payment options.

While we can set up an automatic withdrawal from the bank account you provide us, that is typically the extent of our interaction with the IRS regarding your payments. The IRS/state depts of revenue do not notify taxpayers when their payments are processed. However, your IRS account that is linked to your SSN will show you a history of your payments. Learn more about setting up and IRS account.

State depts of revenue each have their own websites. Massachusetts residents can use MassTaxConnect If you live in another state, Googling [your state] + department of revenue should bring you to the appropriate site. If you’re having trouble finding your state’s website, email info@dougjmursteincpa.com and we will help you locate your payment options.

Estimated taxes are taxes paid to the IRS on earnings which have not had withholdings on them. For example, a self-employed freelancer should make estimated payments on their earnings to reduce liability when taxes are due (think of it like levying a payroll tax on yourself). The IRS assesses an underpayment of estimated tax payment penalty when the tax liability exceeds 10% of the current year tax. There are safe harbor provisions that can be used to reduce or eliminate this, the primary one being paying in amounts equal to or 110% of the prior year’s actual tax. This means that paying estimates will help you avoid penalties and reduce your liability.

• Make sure you are on the correct login page.

• Make sure you have an active SmartVault account. You should have received an email from notify@my.smartvault.com to register for an account to the address provided when you engaged our services. If you did not register using the link in that email, you won’t be able to log in.

• If you have forgotten your password, click Can’t Sign In? on the bottom right of the loginscreen and follow the directions.

• If you have forgotten which email is linked to your account, call or email our office and we can tell you the address we have on file.

• If you are no longer a client but filed a return with us in a past tax year, you should still have access to your account. If you have tried the above steps but can’t get in, contact our office and we may be able to help.

• We cannot tell you your password or initiate a password reset for you.

Email doug@dougjmursteincpa.com and we will advise. Please include a copy of the notice in your email or upload it to your SmartVault portal so we have the full context of the notice and can advise accordingly.

You can also visit the IRS’ Taxpayer's Advocate Service page for help looking up your notice and determining what it means.